Technology

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3026: An Act concerning a right of publicity

This bill establishes a legal right for individuals (both living and deceased) to control the commercial use of their name, voice, image, or distinctive mannerisms - referred to as their "persona." It prohibits unauthorized use for advertising, fundraising, or digital alterations that misrepresent a person, even after death, and allows the right to be inherited or transferred. The law enables civil lawsuits by rights holders to seek damages (minimum $2,000 or actual losses), injunctions, and destruction of infringing materials, while exempting news reporting, artistic works, and truthful public interest uses. It applies to all activities within Massachusetts, regardless of where the person resides.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents unauthorized digital use of personal data for commercial purposes, enhancing digital privacy protections through right of publicity enforcement.85% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2524: An Act relative to work from home incentives

This bill creates tax incentives for Massachusetts businesses and remote workers. Businesses get a $10 tax credit per qualified remote employee (salaried, full-time, working from home 16+ hours weekly) and a 15% credit for remote work equipment costs. Employees who pay for eligible home office expenses (internet, equipment, supplies) not covered by their employer can claim 20% of those costs. The credits apply to business taxes and individual income taxes, but cannot reduce taxes below minimum required amounts. It directly affects Massachusetts-based businesses with remote workers and employees who work remotely from their homes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credits for businesses and employees, providing direct tax relief that advances fiscal incentives under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 20% tax reimbursement for remote workers' uncovered home office costs, expanding financial benefits related to workplace setup and work arrangements.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllows tax credits for internet costs (eligible home office expense), directly expanding remote work internet access and infrastructure95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2183: An Act relative to the prescription monitoring program

This bill modifies Massachusetts' Prescription Monitoring Program to improve coordination for patients in opioid treatment. It requires treatment facilities to provide patients with a consent form explaining they can choose to share their opioid maintenance treatment information through the monitoring system (which is encouraged but not mandatory). If consent is given, healthcare providers can access this information before prescribing non-maintenance opioids, helping them make more informed decisions. The bill directly affects opioid treatment programs, patients in those programs, and prescribers of controlled substances. It does not change privacy rules but adds a consent process for sharing treatment data within existing legal boundaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves opioid treatment coordination by enabling informed prescribing through consent-based data sharing, enhancing patient safety in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires patient consent for sharing opioid treatment data via monitoring system, enhancing data privacy protections within the technology framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2853: An Act to ban internet tobacco sales

HD 2853 bans all online sales of tobacco products, requiring purchases to occur only in person at a physical retail location. Sellers must verify the buyer’s age using a government-issued photo ID during the transaction. The law applies to retailers, manufacturers, and third-party sellers, prohibiting delivery or remote transactions. It takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly bans internet sales of tobacco, restricting technology use for online transactions per its core provision.90% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1020: An Act establishing the Abigail Adams entrepreneurial program for women

This bill establishes the Abigail Adams Center for Women in STEM, a new program within Massachusetts' business development framework. It directly supports women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions by providing grants for startup costs, small business incubators, entrepreneurial training, networking, business planning, and market research. The center will collaborate with existing agencies like the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the Office of Business Development to offer these services. The program aims to create more favorable opportunities for women in STEM to transition from laboratory work into commercial business leadership roles.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides grants, incubators, and training for women in STEM tech careers, directly funding and advancing technology sector participation through targeted business development.95% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1963: An Act relative to private detectives and private investigators

This bill amends Massachusetts law to regulate private detectives and investigators licensed under Chapter 147. It prohibits licensed professionals from using motor vehicle data (accessed via the registrar's system) for purposes inconsistent with Chapter 147 rules or accessing the registry's facial recognition system. Violating these restrictions would result in automatic license revocation. The law directly affects licensed private detectives and investigators operating in Massachusetts.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts access to facial recognition and motor vehicle data systems, limiting technology use by private investigators per Chapter 147 regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1182: An Act relative to access to a decedent's electronic mail accounts

This Massachusetts bill (HD 1182) creates a new law allowing executors, conservators, and other fiduciaries to access a deceased person's digital accounts, including email content. It lets users pre-set instructions through online tools provided by services (like "digital wills") to share or restrict access to their digital assets, which overrides conflicting terms-of-service agreements. If no instructions exist, fiduciaries can petition a court for access - unless the court finds they’re acting in bad faith or federal law prohibits it. The law applies to digital assets of Massachusetts residents who died on or after its effective date.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables decedents to set digital wills for email access, overriding restrictive terms-of-service, and provides legal access pathways for fiduciaries. This directly strengthens data privacy protections for digital assets after death.90% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3485: An Act relative to the department of unemployment assistance

This bill establishes a special team to review Massachusetts' Department of Unemployment Assistance, focusing on technology, fraud prevention, equitable access, and processing speed. The team, appointed by the labor secretary, must draft a reform action plan by July 1, 2025, including cost estimates for improvements. It also creates a dedicated "Unemployment Assistance Review Fund" to finance recommended changes using state appropriations, grants, or donations without requiring new legislation. The fund's annual activities must be reported to state lawmakers, ensuring transparency in how resources are applied to modernize the department.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes review team and fund to improve unemployment assistance access, speed, and equity, directly strengthening worker benefit system.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly establishes technology-focused team for fraud prevention, equitable access, and system improvements in unemployment assistance, aligning with digital equity and cybersecurity support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 452: An Act relative to fair hiring practices

SD 452 prohibits Massachusetts employers from discriminating against job applicants based on unemployment status, such as refusing to hire, screening, or advertising jobs that require current employment or disqualify the unemployed. It also bans employers from demanding personal social media or email passwords during hiring, except for specific investigations into security breaches or company data leaks. Exceptions allow employers to consider relevant work history or recent job experience as legitimate hiring factors. This law directly affects all Massachusetts employers and job seekers, aiming to reduce bias in hiring and protect personal digital privacy.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits unemployment-based hiring discrimination and bans social media password demands, directly protecting job seekers' rights and advancing fair employment standards.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits employers from demanding social media passwords, directly protecting data privacy and digital rights under technology policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Social Media

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1930: An Act relative to health care proxy storage and activation

This bill (HD 1930) changes how health care proxies - documents naming someone to make medical decisions - are handled in Massachusetts. It requires hospitals and clinics to store these proxies electronically in secure digital formats (replacing physical copies) and to integrate them into a patient's electronic medical record, similar to "do not resuscitate" orders. The bill also mandates that facilities notify the designated health care agent (via phone/email) when their authority begins and ensure the agent can participate in medical discussions. It directly affects patients who have appointed a health care agent, hospitals, clinics, and attending physicians.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires electronic storage and integration of health care proxies into medical records, improving patient rights access and agent notification per healthcare proxy standards.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure electronic storage of health care proxies with integration into medical records, directly enhancing data privacy and cybersecurity protections.90% confidence

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